Printing instrumentality for typewriting machines



J y 1935. F. H. TREGO 2,007,228

PRINTING INSTRUIENTALITY FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES I Filed March 24, .1931 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Fmnk 7/ 290.

' July 9,' 1935. TREGO 2,007,228

PRINTING INSTRUHENTALITY FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed March 24, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fi'gA. 120

m) INVENTOR fi'ank h. Pego.

BY 2 a Z A TTORNEY Patented July 9, 1935 PATENT OFFICE PRINTING INSTRUMENTALITY FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Frank H. Trego, New York, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to, Ralph C. Coxhead Corporation, New York, Delaware N. Y., a corporation of Application March 24, 1931, Serial No. 524,315

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in typewriting machines and more particularly to printing instrumentalities therefor. The invention is shown as applied to the varityper writing machine which includes a typecarrier or shuttle settable by the operation of the key levers and with which co-operates a printing hammer to effect the printing on a work sheet.

An object of the invention is to facilitate the operation of the printing instrumentalities and also to render the printing mechanism practically noiseless.

In carrying out the invention the printing is accomplished by pressure instead of impact as heretofore. To this end there is provided means including a toggle to actuate an element which presses the work-sheet against the types of the shuttle.

To actuate the toggle there is provided a solenoid connected in a normally open electric circuit which may be closed by a switch operable by the key levers to effect energization of the. solenoid to thus actuate the pressure element, of the printing instrumentalities, which co-operates with the type shuttle.

A feature of the invention relates to means for adjusting the toggle in accordance with the number of sheets being manifolded and in accordance with the different sizes of types on the various shuttles which may be used.

Another feature of the invention relates to means to limit the motion of the actuating mechanism for the pressure element.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification,

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a detail view illustrating means for adjusting the printing element in accordance with the number of sheets to be manifolded.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the machine, some of the parts being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the printing instrumentalities operated.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear view of the escapement mechanism and the switches associated therewith.

Fig. 6 is a view of the wiring diagram.

Similar reference characters represent similar parts throughout the several views.

The machine includes a main frame ||I provided with a track l upon which is supported a carriage l2 to travel back and forth through the medium of anti-friction balls or rollers I3. The

carriage is provided with feed rollers l4 and I5 by which a work sheet It may be fed upwardly between a type carrier or shuttle l1 and a co-operating or pressure element 8, the latter being located behind the work-sheet.

The type shuttle I1 is located in front of the work sheet and is supported on an anvil 2|! secured to a shaft 2 suitably supported by a crossbar 22 and a plate 23 on the machine frame. The shuttle I1 is actuated by a lever 24 connected to 10 said shuttle by an upwardly extending finger 25 engaging a fin 26 on the shuttle, which fl-. ex-

tends through a slot 21, in the anvil 20, the fin serving also to support the shuttle on the anvil.

The shuttle actuating lever 24 is secured to am sleeve 28 rotatably supported on the shaft 2| and bearing on the cross bar 22. The lever 24 may be actuated in either direction from a central position, by means fully illustrated in my application, Serial No. 495,872, filed Nov. 15, 1930. 0-

-Said means includes two levers 30, only one of which is shown herein, secured to the upper ends of vertically disposed rock-shafts 3| supported at their upper ends by a fixed bracket 32 and at their lower ends by fixed brackets 33. Springs 25 3|! hold the levers 30 in their normal positions where they are arrested by suitable stops (not shown).

As the rock shaft 3| is actuated, in the direction of arrow (Fig. 1) a pin 34 on the lever 30 30 engages the shuttle lever 24 to actuate the latter about the axis of the shaft 2| to thus actuate the type shuttle I! to carry the selected one of the types 35 to the printing point. The element I8 is then operated in a manner hereinafter de- 35 scribed to print on the work-sheet.

Before the printing takes place, however, the selected type is accurately positioned at the printing point by an indexing device or stop 46, there being one associated with .each key-lever 40 48, and actuable thereby, against the action of a return spring 41, to project the upper end into the path of an arm 49 of the shuttle actuating lever 24.

Each rock shaft 3| is actuated by an electro- 45 magnet or solenoid 50 comprising a sucking coil 5| and a plunger 52; the coil 5| on the left hand side of the machine, when energized, drawing the plunger 52 thereinto to actuate an arm 53 on the right hand side of the machine, secured to 50' shaft 3|. The shaft is thus rotated to eifect the actuation of the shuttle actuating arm 24 as previously described.

The solenoids 50 are connected in an electric circuit including a source of energy 55 (Fig. 6) 55 connected to a ground 50 and a conductor 51 which is connected to the solenoids 50. A conductor 50 extends from each solenoid 50 to a normally open switch 50 comprising a fixed contact 00 and a movable contact II, the contact 00 being connected to a conductor 02 to the ground 53. A main switch 03 is provided for connecting the machine with source of energy 55. Thus it will be understood that by closing either of the switches 50 the associated solenoid 50 is energized to operate the associated rock shaft 3!, on the opposite side of the machine, and thereby actuate the type shuttle I1 in one direction or the other from its central position as previously described.

The key levers 48 are divided into two sets, one set at each side of the middle of the machine, each set having associated therewith a universal bar 05 forming a portion of a frame 36p supported for independent movement on a shaft 61 while being actuated by the rear ends of the key-levers.

The movable contact SI of the switch 50 is supported on a bracket 10 (Fig. 1) and is insulated therefrom, said bracket being secured to the frame 66 by a screw 1|. As the frame is actuated, by the key levers, the contact 6| is carried upwardly therewith into engagement with the contact 00, thus closing the switch to effect the energization of the solenoid 50 to actuate the type shuttle until it is arrested by the lever 24,

the arm 49 thereof contacting with the operated indexing pin or stop 46.

The contacts 00 of the switches 59 are each supported in a block 12 of insulating material secured to the frame of the machine by screws 13.

Either of the universal bars 05 is actuable still further, after its switch 59 is closed, to effect actuation of the carriage escapement and the actuation of the co-operative printing element I8 in a manner hereinafter described. To permit this further movement of the universal bars the contacts 60, of the switches 50, are each movable against the action of a spring 12' contained within the block 12.

The carriage I2 is connected by the usual rack 15 with a pinion 18 of the carriage escapement 10 which is actuable by either of the universal bars 00. To this end the universal bar frames 60 have each a cross-bar 11 engaging an arm 10 secured to the shaft 81 to rock the latter. Said shaft 61 has secured thereto a rearwardly extending arm 10 which, when actuated, operates a dog rocker 00 about its pivot II (Fig. 5) to carry a fixed dog 02 into the path of an escapement wheel 03 supported on a shaft 04, the escapement wheel having the usual one-way driving connection (Fig. 1) including a spring-pressed pawl 03, on a disk 03 rotatably supported on the shaft 04 and integral with the pinion 13; the pawl 00' engaging a ratchet 01 secured to the escapement shaft 04. The carriage is urged leftward of the machine by the usual means including the spring drum (not shown) which is connected to the carriage I2 by the strap 05; the action of said spring drum tending to rotate the escapement wheel in a clockwise direction (Fig. 5) through medium of the pawl 36 and ratchet 01.

After the dog 02 has entered the path of the teeth of the escapement wheel a'loose dog 00 is swung, about its pivot OI out of engagement with said escapement wheel 03, by an arm 92 having a slot 03 into which extends a pin 04 from said loose dog. Upon the release of the loose dog, from the escapement wheel, it is carried upwardly by a frame 00 pivotally supported on the escapement shaft 04, said frame being actuated by the fixed bracket l 36.

printing element I0 through the medium of a connecting pin 00, the'element I0 being operated. in a manner hereinafter described.

The pawl 30, as it is carried upwardly, is guided by the slot 03 and is swung back into the path of the next adjacent tooth of the escapement wheel by the dog rocker upon its return movement so that, upon the rotation of the escapement wheel, subsequent to its release from the dog 02, the escapement wheel returns the loose dog to normal, thus completing a letter feeding movement of the carriage.

The means to actuate the printing element I0 includes a solenoid I00 (Fig. 1) which is connected with the source of power 0! (Fig. 6) by a conductor IM and the conductor 51; the solenoid I 00 being also connected in series with a normally open switch I02 and a normally closed switch I03 by conductors I04 and I05, respectively; the switch I03 being connected to the ground 50 by a conductor I00.

The switch I02 includes a relatively fixed contact I01 supported in a block I 00 of insulating material secured (see Fig. 5) to the main frame I0 by screws I00. The switch I02 further includes a contact IIO supported in a block III of insulating material secured to the dog rocker 00 so that when the latter is actuated, as previously described, the contact H0 is carried downwardly against the contact I01 to close the circuit in which the coil II2 of the solenoid I 00 is connected, to energize the latter.

Upon the energization of the coil I I2 a plunger I I3 is sucked thereinto to actuate the co-operative printing element about its fulcrum I I4 (Figs. 1 and 4); the plunger II3 being connected by suitable means, hereinafter described, to the element I0. After the printing operation the-solenoid I00 is de-energized, in a manner described later, and the co-operative element I3 is then restored to normal by means including a spring H5. The feeding movement of the carriage, through the medium of the pin 90, which connects the element I0 with the dog carrying frame 05 of the escapement mechanism, may assist in returning said element to normal.

The operation of the printing instrumentalities is rendered noiseless, and to this end the cooperative printing element I0 does not have the action of a hammer, as formerly or in other words does not print by impact, but has a pressing action against the shuttle I1, produced by means including a toggle I20 which slows down the motion of the element I3 as it approaches its printing position, so that the said element I0 meets the shuttle without any noise and with great pressure.

The toggle I20 includes two links I 2| and I22 pivotally connected to each other by a stud I23; the link I2I being supported by a pivot I24 on a bracket I25 secured to an extension I20 of a bracket portion I21 supported on the machine frame I0 by a forward extension I20.

The other link, I22, of the toggle is pivotally connected to the element I0 by a pin I29. The toggle is operable by the solenoid I00, and to this end the plunger 3 of the solenoid is connected by a resilient link or spring I30 to a lever I3I to swing the latter downwardly about a pivot I32 on the bracket I26. The free end of said lever pulls downwardly on a link I33 to swing a lever I34 downwardly about a pivot I35 on a Said lever I34 is connected by a link I31 to the stud I23 which connects the toggle links I22 and I23 so that as the lever I34 is swung downwardly from the position in Fig. 1 the toggle I20 is straightened out to the position in Fig. 4 to press the element I8 against the type shuttle II1.

It will be observed, in Fig. 4, that the point of connection I23 of the toggle links HI and I22 .is quite close to, but has not reached the dead center, or, in other words, is not quite in alignment with the centers of the pivots I24 and I29, as indicated by the straight line I40. Thus it will be understood that when in the printing position of the toggle there is still pressure of the element I8 against the type shuttle I1.

Suitable noiseless means are provided to limit the downward movement of the toggle. For this purpose thereis provided a toggle I45 comprising links I46 and I41 connected to each other by'a pivot I48. The link I46 is pivotally connected by a pin I49 to the bracket I26 and the link I41 is connected by a pivot I50 to the lever I3I- so that as the latter is actuated by the plunger I I3 the motion of said lever is limited by the straightening out of the toggle I45. A spring I5I may be connected to the link I41 to move the toggle I45 off the dead center as the toggle I20 and its actuating parts are restored to normal by the spring II5 connected to the link I2I.

The toggle supporting bracket I25 may be secured to the fixed bracket I26 by a screw I55; said screw passing through the elongated slot in the bracket I25 so that said bracket may be shifted slightly, fore and aft of the machine, to adjust the toggle I20 to produce the desired pressure of the printing element' I8 against the shuttle I1. I

Instead of rigidly securing the bracket I25 to the bracket I26, there may be provided a shouldered screw I56 (Fig. 2) to hold said bracket on the bracket I26 so that it may be slid freely foreand-aft of the machine to adjust the toggle-to vary the operated position of the printing element in accordance with the number of sheets, in a pack, to be manifolded. A screw I51 held fore-and-aft of the machine by a bracket I58 is threaded into the bracket I25 and may be manipulated by a head I59 to shift the bracket I25 and thus adjust the toggle'I20 to vary the operated position of the printing element I8 in ace cordance with the thickness of the paper and the number of sheets to be manifolded.

The screw head I59 may be provided with su table indices I60 co-operating with a fixedpointer I60 to assist in adjusting the bracket I25.

To de-energize the solenoid I00, after printing, the switch I03 is automatically opened as in my above mentioned application. Said switch includes, for this purpose, a fixed contact I on a block I66 of insulating material (Fig. 5) mounted on a bracket I61 secured to the main frame I0. .Co-operating with the contact I65 is another contact I68 supported on a bell-crank lever I69 pivoted, by a screw or stud I10, on the bracket I61. A detent spring I1 I, secured to the bracket I61, acts through the medium of a roller I12 on one side of a nose I13 of the bell crank lever I69 to hold the switch closed as in Fig. 5.

The operation of the switch I03, to open it, is initiated by the printing element I8, during its actuation to' the printing point, through the medium of the dog carrying frame 95; said frame being provided with a lug I15 which engages a finger I16 of the bell crank or switch lever I69 to swing the latter about its pivot I10 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 5) until the point of the nose I13 wipes'past the roller I12 of the spring detent I II The contact I66 is pressed axially by a spring I68 and is slidably supported on the switch lever I69 so that the switch may remain closed during the early part of the. actuation of the switch lever I69. v

The printing of the element I8 takes place before the spring detent I1I becomes effective to complete the actuation of the switch lever I69 to open the switch I03. Instantly after the printing, however, the switch is opened by said detent and the solenoid is thus tie-energized, thus permitting the printing element I6 to be restored to normal, by the springs H5 and I5I.

While the printing element I8 is returning the finger I15 on the dog carrying frame engages a 'finger'I11 to initiate the return movement of the printing instrumentalities including two elements,

namely a single type carrier having a complete font of types and an element to co-operate therewith, to act against any one of the types to print, key levers, means operable by said key levers to selectively set the type carrier to register the desired type at the co-operative element, means to pivotally support said co-operative element, a toggle to be straightened out and acting on the active end of the co-operating element to swing it about its pivot to press it against the type carrier to efifect printing on a work sheet, intermediate means to operate said toggle, an electro-magnet to actuate said intermediate means, and

means to noiselessly arrest the intermediate co-operative element, means to pivotally support said co-operative element, a toggle including two elements, a pivoted connection between said toggle elements, a fixed fulcrum for the end of one toggle element, a pivotal connection between the other toggle element and said co-operative element, means including an operating lever, a link connecting the lever to said toggle, and means to actuate said operating lever.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two elements, namely a type carrier and an element to co-operate therewith, means to selectively set the type carrier to register the desired type at the cooperative element, means to pivotally support said co-operative element, a toggle including two elements, a pivotal connection between said toggle elements, a fixed fulcrum for the end of one toggle element, a pivotal connection between the other toggle element and said co-operative element, an operating lever, a link connecting the operating lever with said toggle, power means, and means connecting the power means with said operating lever.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination oi printing instrumentalities including two elements, namely a type carrier and an element to co-operate therewith, means to selectively set the type carrier to register the desired type at the cooperative element, means to pivotally support the co-operative element, means including a lever to operate said cooperative element key-levers,means operable by the keylevers to effect the operation of said lever, a toggle independent of the operating means and connected to said lever to iunction only to limit the actuation 01 said lever, and a spring connected to the limiting toggle to restore it to normal.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two elements, namely a type carrier and an element to co-operate therewith to print on an interposed work sheet, means to selectively set the type carrier to register the desired type at the co-operative element, a toggle to actuate one of said elements to print against the other, electric means to actuate said toggle, a carriage, escapement mechanism for said carriage, key-levers, a universal bar operable by said key-levers to actuate the escapement, and

a switch operable by said escapement to efiect the actuation of the electric means to operate said toggle.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two elements, namely a type carrier and an element to co-operate therewith, means to selectively at the type carrier to register the desired type atthe cooperative element, a toggle to actuate one 01 said elements to print against the other, electric means to actuate said toggle, a carriage, escapement mechanism for said carriage, key-levers, a universal bar operable by said key-levers to actuate the escapement, a switch operable by said escapement to affect the actuation of the electric means 'to operate said toggle, a second switch operable by the escapement to render the electric means inefiective, and means to return the toggle and the associated element.

'7. In a typewriting machine, the combination oi printing instrumentalities including two elements, namely a type carrier and an element to co-operate therewith, means to selectively set the type carrier to register the desired type at the co-operative element, means to pivotally support said co-operat-ive element, a toggle including two elements, a pivoted connection between said toggle elements, a fixed fulcrum for the end of one toggle element, a pivoted connection between the other toggle element and said co-operative element, means including an operating lever, a link connecting the lever to said toggle, means including an electro-magnet to actuate said operating lever, a carriage escapement, and means operable by said escapement to eiIect the actuation oi. said electro-mag'net.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrlunentalities including two elements, namely a type carrier and an element to co-operate therewith, means to selectively set the type carrier to register the desired type at the co-operative element, means to pivotally support said co-operative element, a toggle including two elements, a pivoted connection between said toggle elements, a fixed i'ulcrum for the end of one toggle element, a pivoted connection between the other toggle element and said co-operative element, means including an operating lever, a link connecting the lever to said toggle, power means to actuate said operating lever, and a resilient connection between the operating lever and the power means.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two elements, namely a type carrier and an element to co-operate therewith, means to selectively set the type carrier to register the desired type at the co-operative element, means to pivotally support said co-operative element, a toggle including two elements, a pivoted connection'between said toggle elements, a fixed iulcrum for the end of one toggle element, a pivoted connection between the other toggle element and said co-operative element, means including an operating lever, a link connecting the lever to said toggle, reciprocable power means to actuate said lever, and means to noiselessly arrest the power means.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two elements, namely a type carrier and an element to co-operate therewith, means to selectively set the type carrier to register the desired type at the co-operative element, means to pivotally support said co-operative element, a toggle including two elements, a pivoted connection between said toggle elements, a fixed fulcrum for the end at one toggle element, a pivoted connection between the other toggle element and said co-operative element, means including an operating lever, a link connecting the lever to said toggle, reciprocable power means to actuate said lever, means to arrest said lever in its effective position, and resilient means connecting the power means with said lever to absorb the shock produced by the power means when the lever is arrested.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two elements, namely a type carrier and an element to co-operate therewith, means to selectively set the type carrier to register the desired type at the co-operative element, means to pivotally support said co-operative element, a toggle including two elements, a pivoted connection between said toggle elements, a fixed fulcrum for the end of one toggle element, a pivotal connection between the other toggle element and said co-operative element, means including an operating lever, a link connecting said lever to the pivotal connection between the toggle elements, means to actuate the operating lever, key levers, and means operable by any one of the key levers to eiiect the actuation of the lever operating means.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities including two elements, namely a type carrier and an element to co-operate therewith, means to selectively set the type carrier to register the desired type at the co-operative element, means to pivotally support said co-operative element, a toggle including two elements, a pivoted connection between said toggle elements, a fixed fulcrum tor the end of one toggle element, a pivotal connection between the other toggle element and said cooperative element, means including an operating lever, a link connecting the lever to said toggle, means to actuate the operating lever, key levers, means operable by any one of the key levers to eil'ect the actuation of the lever operating means, the extent oi movement oi said lever being constant, and means to adjust the position of the fixed pivot to vary the pressure oi the printing element independently oi the lever actuating means.

FRANK H. 'I'REGO. 

